ASSOCIATION POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ASYMMETRY QUESTION

Abstract

The aim of this article is to put an emphasis on the asymmetrical aspects of association policy of the EU. The article problematizes the weakness of institutional association between the EU and associated countries despite the high volume of direct and indirect rule taking by these countries. The main argument of the article is that the EU needs to develop an institutionalized associate membership status at least for associated countries in Europe, i.e. European in the sense of the article 49 of the Treaty on the EU. It is concluded that a new association policy may accommodate better interests of both the EU and associate countries. This is especiallyimportant for an improved image of the EU in these countries.

Keywords

• eu association policy
• association agreements
• asymmetry
• external differentiated integration
• ab ortaklık politikası
• ortaklık anlaşmaları
• asimetri
• harici farklılaştırılmış entegrasyon